Now & Then & Etc

Because Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz., a former combat pilot and astronaut) reminded servicemembers that they do not have to execute unlawful orders (as is written into military law), President Trump directed that Kelly be tried for sedition (that charge was rejected recently by a federal grand jury) and his Secretary of Defense tried to bust Kelly in rank and strip away his retirement benefits (that attempt was rejected recently by a federal judge).

Many things are wrong with Trump’s assault on Senator Kelly:

            – Trump’s trying to strip Kelly of his 1^st amendment right to freedom of speech means that he’s attacking all retired military members’ freedom of speech, which is one of the core American freedoms that we fought for. Serving a career in the military does not mean we forever give up our right to freedom of speech.

            – As an elected representative who served in the military for years, Kelly serves his constituents well by being able to comment knowledgeably on military matters. We vote for—and expect—such experienced people to speak out about our military, and for them to make well-thought-out laws affecting it. It’s not for the president to stifle our elected representatives.

            – This whole process—of trying to stifle a critic, especially one who the people in his state elected to a position in which they need him to speak out—is another step toward totalitarianism. The further down that path, the harder it becomes to make good laws and actions and to overcome bad actors. Blocking bad actions, like trying to remove freedom of speech from veterans, is very much needed now.

The following is quoted from a Rolling Stone article by Nikki McCann Ramirez, “Judge quotes Bob Dylan in scathing rebuke of Hegseth’s bid to punish senator,” Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2026,
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/judge-quotes-bob-dylan-rebuke-hegseth-mark-kelly-1235515514/

A judge has dismissed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s attempts to retaliate against Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a former Navy captain and astronaut who incurred the Pentagon chief’s ire when he reminded active duty service members that they do not have to execute unlawful orders.

Judge Richard Leon, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, wrote on Thursday that Hegseth’s efforts to demote Kelly and relieve him of veteran’s benefits had “trampled on Senator Kelly’s First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees.”

“Secretary Hegseth relies on the well-established doctrine that military servicemembers enjoy less vigorous First Amendment protections given the fundamental obligation for obedience and discipline in the armed forces. Unfortunately for Secretary Hegseth, no court has ever extended those principles to retired servicemembers, much less a retired servicemember serving in Congress and exercising oversight responsibility over the military,” wrote Leon, an appointee of former President George W. Bush. “This Court will not be the first to do so!”